Teppei Ujiyama & Zenzo Sakamoto Exhibition

2026/03/07 2026/03/22

FUKUOKA

Two painters, whose colours and forms appear strikingly different but when exhibited next each other evoke a mysterious resonance. They lived at the almost same era, found roots at their birth place in terms of own art expressions and established their own styles - which is abstract art. Also, both artists devoted themselves to educate younger generations at local universities.

In 1973, a two-person exhibition (Futari-Ten) *was held, and it suggests that there was a close relationship between these two people. We will exhibit approximately 40 artworks in this exhibition. I am looking forward to seeing you at the gallery.

Mizoe Art Gallery
Kazunobu Abe

*It was held at Kitakyusyu Municipal Yahata Museum of Art (current Kitakyusyu Municial Museum of Art) by Kitakyusyu Municipal Borad of Education.

Teppei Ujiyama (1910–1986)
He was born in Oita Prefecture and learned Japanese lacquerware at a craft school in Hita. He exhibited self-taught woodblock prints and oil paintings alongside working as a lacquerware designer, art teacher at school and newspaper employee. In 1964-65, he travelled to Iran, Syria, Egypt and Europe.
He was interested in ancient oriental art, Buddhism art and Japanese handscrolls. But at the same time, he painted the world of beauty beyond the era and beyond East and West.
Received the Mainichi Art Award and the Nishinihon Culture Award.

Zenzo Sakamoto (1911–1987)
He was born in Kumamoto prefecture and moved to Tokyo, learning at Hongo Kaiga Kenkyuujyo, Teikoku Bijyutsu Gakkou (current Musashino Art University). He was also a member of the Dokuritsu Art Association and received the Dokuritsu Award. After the War, he came back to Kumamoto, exhibited at the Tokyo Biennale and Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan while studying under Kinosuke EBIHARA.
After studying abroad in France in 1957-59, his style was transformed to the abstract art which is deeply related to Japanese culture. He was named ”The artist of grey” and “The silence in the East” and created great quality of woodblock prints too. After he passed away, the Sakamoto Zenzo Museum of Art was opened in his hometown in Oguni. He received Nishinihon Culture Award and also received a prize devoted to developing modern culture in Kumamoto.

Location: FUKUOKA
Dates: 2026/03/07-2026/03/22

ARTWORKS

In Memoriam Mitsuko Tabe Exhibition